Reviewing Random Films For Fun

December 28, 2014

Shaft (1971) #MovieReview

Film 102 in the “1001 Films to See Before You Die” challenge is 1971’s “Shaft”. I’m guessing that the only reason this film made the list was for it’s famous theme song performed by Isaac Hayes. Or as I’ve always known him, Chef from “South Park”. The song must have been such a hit as it won an Oscar! This film has a mixture of bad acting, bad sound quality and it was very clear at some points that some lines were recorded in post production and dubbed over. I honestly couldn’t care about the plot or everyone Shaft meets. All I wanted to see was Shaft kicking ass and taking names. Boy was I wrong. Instead, Shaft goes for the shoot first, never ask questions because I’m too busy shagging random women. Now that I sit here trying to remember anything about the film. Nothing springs to mind. I can’t really remember anything. So by that logic, this film is a “watch it for the theme song” film. In 2000, Richard Roundtree (who played Shaft) had this to say about the film, “You knew we had something really exciting, but we had no idea how big this thing was going to be.” This film did manage to get two sequels, 1972’s “Shaft’s Big Score!” and 1973’s “Shaft in Africa”. It even got remade in 2000 with Samuel L Jackson as Shaft. I feel like I should have watched that version now! Ah well, if you have seen this film, or any of the sequels, or the 2000 remake then let me know what you thought of them in the comments. Here is what I had to say while watching 1971’s “Shaft”

Film – Shaft

Year – 1971

Director – Gordon Parks

Staring – Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi

IMDb Rating – 6.6/10

My Rating – 4.7/10

Length – 96 min (1h 36min)

Genre – Action, Crime, Thriller

Welcome to New York

And there’s the theme song

Watch where you’re driving

Are they protesting about job vacancies at The New York Times?

I’m guessing this was before jaywalking was a crime?

Welcome to the shoe buffers! Here’s a free coffee

I can barely hear them over the traffic

“Up yours, baby”

Is it me or is someone dubbing over Shaft’s lines?

His words don’t sync with his mouth

Time for me to spy on this man who’s buying gum

I didn’t know you could open elevator doors by knocking on them?

That’s one way to avoid criminals! Let them dive through the window

I get the feeling Byron wants to arrest Shaft because he’s black

How many gangs are there in Harlem?

Also, who nicknames themselves “Bumpy”?

Vic just played the “You ain’t black! My pen is blacker than you” game

Why is Vic’s close-up a little out of focus?

Are they sorting out a way to arrest Bumpy?

I want roast chestnuts and a taxi

That taxi drove past me! Racist!

How to unlock a door – Use a credit card!

This is some pretty bad acting

Was Bumpy staring at Shaft’s penis?

Bumpy wants Shaft to find his daughter whos been kidnapped

La Mumba – The rejected original name for “La Bamba”

Let’s just assume that she’s being held hostage in Harlem

$50 an hour! So in a 24 hour period Shaft would have made $1200

In one week, Shaft can make $8400

Take this envelope! That’ll help you get started

Why does he stop himself from finishing “motherfucker”? He only says “mother”

“Any job is hard to find” – That lyric is very true

What the hell is a “$50 Jones”

Where’s Ben Buford? I’m looking for him

Here’s $20 to make you talk

“I hear some cat tell another cat” – is cat a slang term for guy?

Is Shaft naked reading Cosmo?

KISS ME BITCH

So… That’s what Shaft’s ass looks like

Well… that’s the wife shagged! Time for a hotdog to celebrate

You look cold, kid! Here’s some money for food

Did that guy follow Shaft all the way to Amsterdam Avenue?

So… Shaft and Ben use to be friends?!?

Those lines was clearly recorded in post

Here’s some money for a new front door

Is he threatening him with sewing scissors?

Let’s escape through the back alleys

These songs have a lot of bass guitar and high hat symbols

I can’t see anything now

“Uncle Tom Jive” – What is that?

Whos’ apartment is this? Did Shaft get a new apartment within one night?

Did Vic say Shaft got fingered?

So… the mafia is planning to attack Bumpy’s gang?!?

Who goes bald in a straight line?

Why did he call Shaft “Snow White”?

Why is Bumpy’s office a lot nicer than the rest of the building?

Bumpy knew all along that the mafia has his daughter

You’re still finding her!

Bumpy proposes Shaft uses Ben’s gang to take out all of the mafia to get his daughter back